xtiger
12-03-2007, 04:24 PM
Looks as though Stark county will miss out. http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=389789&Category=9&subCategoryID=0
The owner of a potato chip company says he won’t wait for an annexation appeal to be resolved, but will seek out other locations to expand operations.
“I’m running a potato chip business, not a political campaign for annexation,” CEO Bob Shearer of Shearer’s Foods said today.
Perry Township officials are challenging last week’s annexation of the 79-acre former Fleming Foods plant into Massillon. An appeal was filed Friday.
Stark County commissioners approved Massillon’s petition for the property, so Shearer’s Foods could expand its operations.
About 700 jobs are affected by the plans.
Shearer said he is “not completely abandoning” the Fleming Foods plant. However, he said he will not sit back and wait for a resolution.
“It’s disappointing. But we have a lot of people who want us,” he said.
Massillon Mayor Francis H. Cicchinelli said Shearer has been “upfront” from the start, telling township and city officials he has other locations.
“It’s no secret,” Cicchinelli said. “We’re trying to settle this thing with Perry Township. Hopefully, its not all lost and we can save jobs.”
Massillon’s petition did not include an agreement to share taxes, so Perry Township could lose all taxes on the property after 12 years. The lack of an agreement is the subject of Perry Township’s appeal.
Township Law Director Charles Hall and Trustee Craig Chessler could not be reached for comment.
The owner of a potato chip company says he won’t wait for an annexation appeal to be resolved, but will seek out other locations to expand operations.
“I’m running a potato chip business, not a political campaign for annexation,” CEO Bob Shearer of Shearer’s Foods said today.
Perry Township officials are challenging last week’s annexation of the 79-acre former Fleming Foods plant into Massillon. An appeal was filed Friday.
Stark County commissioners approved Massillon’s petition for the property, so Shearer’s Foods could expand its operations.
About 700 jobs are affected by the plans.
Shearer said he is “not completely abandoning” the Fleming Foods plant. However, he said he will not sit back and wait for a resolution.
“It’s disappointing. But we have a lot of people who want us,” he said.
Massillon Mayor Francis H. Cicchinelli said Shearer has been “upfront” from the start, telling township and city officials he has other locations.
“It’s no secret,” Cicchinelli said. “We’re trying to settle this thing with Perry Township. Hopefully, its not all lost and we can save jobs.”
Massillon’s petition did not include an agreement to share taxes, so Perry Township could lose all taxes on the property after 12 years. The lack of an agreement is the subject of Perry Township’s appeal.
Township Law Director Charles Hall and Trustee Craig Chessler could not be reached for comment.